JP2005531249A - System for providing V channel for individuals - Google Patents

Abstract

The system provides personal TV channels to the user. All users provide visual information and are connected to the server (15) through the network (14). The server has a network unit (26) for receiving real-time information, user parameters and user commands over the network and transmitting personal TV channels to the user over the network. The generation unit (27) of the server generates a personal channel for the user in response to user parameters and user commands by selectively including real-time information from other users in the personal channel. The user has a user device (10) with an input unit (24) that receives video information about the user (especially video information from a webcam). The device has a memory (25) that stores user parameters identifying the user and a remote control unit (22) that receives user commands to control the content of the personal channel.

Description

  The present invention relates to a system and method for providing a personal TV channel.

  The invention further relates to a device and server entity for the system.

  The invention further relates to a method for managing the system.

  The invention further relates to a computer program product for providing a personal TV channel.

  Known television systems (TVs) provide many TV channels that provide entertainment to users by showing movies, news, shows, quizzes, and the like. Usually, the content is intended to be viewed actively. Furthermore, the TV provides a music channel that shows music clips to some extent continuously. Many people do not use the TV just for active viewing, but leave it on for background use while doing other things. However, general TV channel content is not very suitable for TV background use.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a personal TV channel.

  According to a first aspect of the invention, the object is a system for providing a personal TV channel to at least one of a number of users, said server being coupled to a network. A server unit for receiving real-time information, user parameters and user commands over the network, and a server unit for receiving real-time information from other users. A generation unit for generating a personal channel for the at least one user in response to the user parameters and user commands by selectively including in a personal channel, the apparatus comprising: Video information about the user (especially Input unit for receiving real-time information having video information from web cams, storage means for storing user parameters identifying the at least one user, control means for receiving the user commands to control the content of the personal channel, A network unit that couples the device to a server entity through a network and generates an output signal for display on a TV display based on the personal channel for transmitting the real-time information and the user parameters and user commands. This is achieved with a system having a generating unit. According to a second aspect of the invention, the object is achieved with an apparatus as described in the above system. According to a third aspect of the invention, the object is achieved with a server entity described in the above system. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the object is a method for managing a system for providing a personal TV channel, wherein the method is performed through an apparatus for providing a personal TV channel to a user through the server. A method comprising: managing a server entity by providing a user registration to a user capable of connecting to the entity; and generating a user parameter identifying the user for user registration and storage in the device. Achieved.

  The effect is the availability of a personal TV channel where the user is part of a group of registered users and has content based on real-time information made available by other users. The user controls the content of the personal channel by issuing user commands, which are decrypted by the server entity constituting the personal TV channel from real-time information provided by other users of the system. The effect is that the TV can be used in an original way of providing friendship by switching to a personal TV channel provided for a particular user. The availability of content for personal TV channels depends on mutual understanding between users to make available real-time information from the corresponding capture unit.

  The invention is also based on the following recognition. The use of capture units (usually called webcams) is known from the Internet. For example, DE 10034192 shows a security system that uses a remote camera connected to a computer via email. However, in order to view the real-time information of the webcam, the user is required to have a computer and so-called browser software, and needs to search the internet to find the location of the webcam. The use of a computer is interactive, requires user knowledge to scan the browser through a standard computer interface, and the computer is relatively complex and expensive. The inventor has recognized that computer requirements and usage patterns are incompatible with TV user requirements. In particular, the control of the content of the personal channel is not to apply a computer interface and browser software, but to a TV user by using a specific user command and sending that user command directly to the user entity to be executed. Can be suitable. Thus, the device can be simple and inexpensive, the server entity is shared by many users, and the complex function of executing user commands to configure a personal TV channel for each user connected to the server Have

  An embodiment of the apparatus comprises means for receiving server control information (in particular, indicating that another user is receiving the real-time information from the user). This has the advantage that the user can be aware of events outside the user's surroundings (eg, other users can see and start communication between them).

  In an embodiment of the apparatus, the control means includes sound means for controlling sound (especially selecting sound from a TV or radio station) to add sound to the personal TV channel. In an embodiment of the device, the sound means adds a sound from a real-time source (real-time information from that source is included in the personal TV channel) or mixes the sound from a TV or radio station. This allows the sound for the personal TV channel to be tailored to the user's request (eg, watching a normal TV channel at the same time as another user and displaying the personal TV channel to be heard). Has the advantage.

  Other preferred embodiments of the device and server entity according to the invention are given in the other claims.

  These and other aspects of the invention will be further elucidated and explained with reference to the embodiments described by way of example in the following description and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  In the figure, elements corresponding to the elements described above have the same reference numerals.

  FIG. 1 shows a network, server and user equipment. This figure schematically shows a network 14 (eg, the Internet) and a number of devices connected through this network. A first user device 10 for providing a personal TV channel to a user is coupled to a network. The device 10 has an input unit 24 for receiving real-time information from the capture unit 11, which real-time information comprises video information associated with the user. Real-time information can include sound or other detected parameters such as room temperature. A suitable capture unit for generating video information is a webcam. The capture unit also has a microphone for capturing sound and a switch for controlling the microphone. In an embodiment, the input unit 24 provides a wireless connection to the capture unit. In addition, the input unit 24 has a detector for detecting the presence of sound and can provide detection results to the user control unit 22 for other controls of the personal TV channel. The device 10 further comprises a memory 25 for storing user parameters that identify the user and a control unit 22 for receiving user commands for controlling the content of the personal channel. User commands can be entered through the remote control unit 12. The device transmits a real-time information and user parameters and user commands and receives a personal channel through a network unit 21 for coupling the device to a server entity through the network 14 and a display 13 based on the personal channel. And a generating unit 23 for generating an output signal for display. Other user devices 16, 17, 18 are also coupled through the network 14. Other user devices are the same as the first user device 10. Each user has personal parameters for connecting to the display unit and the network. In an embodiment, one user device has an input circuit for connecting several capture units and / or an output circuit for generating several output signals, while the memory and control is a personal parameter And personal TV channels for several users. The user equipment can be realized as a separate “set top” box to be connected to the TV and integrated with other TV functions (eg a complete TV set including modules for personal TV channels) In some cases).

  Server entity 15 is also coupled to network 14 to provide a personal TV channel to each of a number of users as long as each user is actively connected and requests such a personal channel. The server entity 15 receives real-time information, user parameters and user commands over the network and selectively transmits real-time information from other users to the personal channel and a network unit 26 for transmitting the personal channel to the user over the network. A generating unit 27 for generating a personal channel for at least one user in response to user parameters and user commands. In the server embodiment, the generation unit 27 comprises a visual structure unit for generating a visual structure as described below with reference to FIGS.

  In an embodiment of the system, the visual structure itself is generated in the generation unit 23 of the user equipment. The server only supplies visual information for display to the user element. In an embodiment, the server helps set up a link from the user's device to each other user device over the network. Video and / or audio information is transmitted between user devices directly through the link. A user device will require video information from user elements that are displayed relatively large in the visual structure, more than video information for user elements that are displayed relatively small. In addition, the user equipment requests some video information from the server, in particular a direct link to display user elements that must be actively displayed in a large area of the display screen and that are of interest to the user. To request other video information from other users.

  In the embodiment of the system, the function of the server entity is realized in the user device. The server entity in each user device maintains relationship information for the user of that device and maintains some other relationship information for configuring personal visual channels and connecting to other user devices. Perform the function. The network of relationship information is constituted by server entities in the user equipment and is expanded by connecting to other server entities of other user equipment and exchanging relationship information. In an embodiment, the system is implemented with a software program running on a suitably equipped PC, which has an input unit for connecting a video camera (webcam) and a network unit.

  Relationship information for constructing a personal visual channel as described below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 can be maintained at the user device, or at least a portion of the relationship information is at the server. Can be maintained. In an embodiment, the server includes an association unit 28 for maintaining relationship information and calculating relational distances. The relationship information can be input by the user himself / herself through the user command unit 22. In addition, the system operator can input and maintain relationship information directly on the server 15. Relational distance calculations are performed in the associated unit 28 according to parameters as described below. The appropriate relationship distance is based on the acquaintance of the user to be set as the primary, the acquaintance of each acquaintance as the secondary, and so on. It is believed that the sixth order can reach almost all users around the world. The generating unit 27 generates a personal channel using real-time information received from other users selected depending on the transmitted user parameters and user commands. The creation of personal TV channel content is described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5. FIG. Personal TV channels may be created individually for each user requesting a service, although some of the images of different personal channels may be obtained from the same source and may therefore be supported. You should be careful. Each individually created channel is transmitted only to the corresponding user through the network by using well-known transmission techniques such as the Internet.

  Basically, the system is a new network that connects users through images provided by the users themselves. What the user shows is up to the user and could be anything that spans the user himself, the user's yard, the user's pet, or the user's blank wall. The system gives the user the opportunity to show something about the user and to see other users. The fact that people can watch personal TV channels on TV makes them somewhat relaxed and comfortable. In the first example, fully environmental and passive use is foreseen. The girl is sitting in her living room and reading a book. Her TV personal channel points to another room, and later her female friend appears in that room.

  In the second example, the system is used as a new communication device. The girl is reading again in her living room. The user device informs that another user is connected, for example, on the display by a visual signal or an audio signal. The girl switches on the sound and communicates with the newly connected user. They decide to watch TV channels and have small “picture-in-picture” frames that still show each other on the personal channel.

  The basic functions for managing the personal channel system are as follows. User login-out requires the server to know the user's identity. A new user gets an ID number (e.g., when a product is purchased) or begins joining by the user applying. The server keeps track of status information, for example when the user is logged in or who is connected to the user. In an embodiment, the user must make the video information available, i.e., cannot be "invisible" online, before the personal channel can be received. The server maintains relationship information (eg, a list of friends' preferences). In an embodiment, the primary is reciprocal and each person automatically becomes the primary of each other. Alternatively, users become primary for each other when both enter their ID numbers. The server also provides a search function for the user. For example, the user can switch to a different level, but does not specifically search (like searching for a name or exact address). In an embodiment, the search is performed by automatic switching. The speed of the zap function may depend on which layer the person is in (layer 1 closest to the user is slowest and layer 6 is fastest). Furthermore, the user can search by direct parameters such as ID numbers.

  Figures 2a and 2b show the relationship information. FIG. 2a shows a home element 30 called “I” representing the user. The first level relationship is indicated by the primary user element 31. The relationship of primary user element 31 to secondary user element 32 is shown one level further away from home element 30. The tertiary user element 33 is one level further from the home element 30. As shown, users can create living communities by placing friends and family first, and reach other users through them. With such a network of sixth level relations, almost all users of the system are reachable. FIG. 2b shows a relationship diagram of different types of users based on the user's commercial and entertainment interests or the user's mood at a particular moment. The user can access such groups of interest through an access portal as shown on the second level 34, i.e. a commercial entity user. The third level user 35 is based on the (commercial) interest parameters of the user 34 who directed the corresponding second level of interest. In an embodiment, the user will have to pay to enter a particular location, or enter through an advertisement, so it is known where the most popular location is. Hence, advertisers can know how to find spots where they can reach people to sell their products. For example, a personal channel could be commercialized by a special business that opens the door to places where the user would never be able to come as shown in FIG. 2b. The figure shows examples of users like UvA (University of Amsterdam), Mazzo (Amsterdam club) or Diesel (clothing brand). In an embodiment, other navigation systems as described below are available, so that the user can select one system according to their needs or moods. Navigation systems can be even more complex, perhaps learning what the user likes and relying on sounds and emotions in the room.

  FIG. 3 shows a closed relationship network. Home element 30 represents the user himself. The first level relationship has user elements 36, 37, 38 and is a closed community by requesting only mutual relationships, and access to other related elements through the first level intermediate user elements Is not possible. In the example, the user 30 can see the relationship between the two elements 36, 37 at the first level. Therefore, a living community is formed and the visual channel can be used as a communication tool like a video phone. Users create their own “islands” with friends and have nothing to do with the people they are connected to. In the figure, Kim is connected to a friend “G” and the friend is also connected to Peter, but no second-level connection is made between them through “G”.

  FIG. 4 shows a visual structure for a personal channel. FIG. 4 a shows the home element 40 as the central element of the visual structure 45. Around the home element, the annular region represents a first level relational distance to the user, the first level being subdivided into segments. The segment shows the user element 41 on the first level by displaying some visual information provided by the user. The second adjacent annular area is further outside and displays a user element 42 at a second level of relational distance. The third level user element 43 and the fourth level user element 44 are shown in positions that are further outward in the radial direction. The fifth and sixth annular regions 46 are very small and individual user elements are hardly visible on these levels in this view. In an embodiment, the higher level annular region segments indicate user elements that have a relationship with the home element through the corresponding intermediate inner ring region user element. In one embodiment, the visual structure is satisfied as follows: The structure is divided into six rings around a small circle 40. The first ring is divided into four parts representing four “friends”. The second ring contains friends of friends, and this ring is divided into more parts, and if each friend has 4 friends, this ring contains 16 images. All other rings are similarly established and connections are made similarly. The fourth, fifth and sixth rings are all almost the same. The user probably doesn't know the people in it, the only difference is the number of images that grow exponentially with each subsequent ring.

  FIG. 4b shows a visual structure similar to FIG. 4a, but the user has zoomed in on another level. The width of the first level annular region 48 is much smaller than in FIG. 4a, while the width of the second level annular region 47 is increased. In an embodiment, the width of the annular region is determined by a user command, in particular by a user who has indicated that the level of relational distance has been selected. FIG. 4c shows a visual structure similar to FIG. 4a, but the user has zoomed in on the third level. Therefore, the third level region 49 is expanded and the first and second level regions are collapsed.

  In an embodiment, the annular area constitutes a disk and is filled with user elements as follows. Available webcams are placed around the smallest circle corresponding to the user's home. When this circle (basically level 0) is selected and enlarged, the user can see what images are coming from the user's webcam. The disk is changing continuously. The first cause of the changing appearance is that no one has been “connected” all the time, and the user element is not shown unless someone is connected. This is because one or two changes in the first level will affect the layout of the disk and the range of people to which the user is connected (the number of users is more in the first eight than in the first three. Means having a great impact on reaching people). In an embodiment, the device shows higher order user elements including user elements based on relationships with unconnected lower level users. Such a view will always show a large number of user elements. The user can have an option to select such an enlarged view. Next, the disk changes when the user changes the order. The selected order is increased so that a better view can be obtained about what is happening in the selected image. The selected image is also larger than the other images in that order, otherwise the view will be very narrow and you will not see anything. This extra space for larger views is achieved by making the “low order” one smaller.

  FIG. 5 shows the segments of the visual structure. Home element 40 is shown at the bottom of the display. A first level user element 41 is shown adjacent, and a portion of the second level user element 42 is shown at the top of the display. The middle part of the display shows a magnified image of the first level selected user element 50. By applying the search and zoom commands, the user indicated that the visual structure should be magnified. This view is an enlarged portion of the disc described above in conjunction with FIG. 4, allowing the user to get a more useful look at a particular location.

  In the examples below, navigation through relationship information and visual structure is based on other user information. In the first embodiment, geographic navigation is used. Some user parameters can be included in the relational distance calculation, and the levels can be, for example, connected people with the same area code, connected people in the same city, connected people in the same country, connected in the same continent. Based on connected people around the world. In a second embodiment called road trip, geographical information is used to travel virtually. The user will be able to pass through all connected homes, for example on the way to Moscow or Sydney. The user could connect a cruise ship or even a train to travel through a lonely place or the sea. Since most people go to their destinations by plane, this road trip could give them a little “feeling of travel”. In the third embodiment, the relational distance is based on selection criteria for people, such as age, gender, hair color, health conditions, pets, location, etc. Users will be able to switch from Japanese bus stops to small villages in Scotland, New York City and Spain. In the fourth embodiment, navigation is based on environmental parameters (eg, temperature or light intensity). The user would be able to navigate through such elements, for example, go to the same temperature location, or go to a slightly higher temperature location each time until reaching the warmest location. The user will be able to start from a dark scene and step up to a slightly brighter place and back until he reaches the place with the highest light intensity. An automatic zap function could perform such a cycle for 24 hours. Furthermore, navigation can also depend on movement, and if nothing is moving in a 30 second scene, it switches to something else. The next thing the user gets can be random. Navigation could also depend on user movement in the room. For example, a user who is paying attention is usually still sitting, so there is little movement in the room. And the selected user element does not change. If there is movement in the room, the personal channel will switch until it gets the user's attention.

  In the embodiment of the device, the generating unit 23 for generating an output signal to the display comprises a unit for combining locally stored visual information with visual information provided by the server entity. Therefore, the personal TV channel displayed for the user is composed of combinations. For example, a map of the relevant area (stored locally on the user device) is used as a background image for the visual structure provided by the server using geographic information-based navigation.

  FIG. 6 shows a user command unit. This unit is realized as a rectangular cabinet 61 having number buttons 62, direction buttons 63 and several special function buttons 64. Alternatively, other forms or types of user control buttons can be used. In particular, personal channel control is performed using buttons. A “move” button is used to navigate through various visual sources within the personal channel. For example, the wheel-type visual structure according to FIGS. 4 and 5 can be visually rotated. The rotation can be stopped by pressing the move button again.

  FIG. 7 schematically shows the user command function. The entire set of user control functions 71 (remote control buttons) is shown on the left. On the right side, special functions 72 (view, menu, move, arrow) corresponding to the special function buttons 64 and the direction buttons 63 are shown as function subdivisions. Other subdivisions show detailed functions 73 (overall, zoom in, full screen, disconnect, connect, private, sound, move, stop, right, left, down, up). The view button expands the overview. In particular, it enlarges around the selected image. A person must press the same button once, twice, or three times to see these views. The connect function connects a new “friend” and the disconnect function disconnects an old friend. A numeric button 62 on the remote control is also required to select whether a person should be connected (disconnected). Private functions only connect to the source of the selected image and other users cannot see the user. The move function starts turning the wheel and provides an automatic change of the selected image. When the user presses the button, the visual structure moves and pushes it again and the wheel stops. The up and down arrow buttons change the wheel layer (up is level up and down is level down). The left and right buttons allow a person to change the image in the layer.

  The sound function provides a selection of sounds that the user desires for the personal TV channel. In different embodiments, the sound function can be performed as follows. A sound channel without sound provides few friends, and with sound it violates privacy. The sound function is to turn on the camera microphone or not turn it on. There is no problem when the microphone is turned on. The user clearly has no privacy issues. There is no sound [and few friends] when the microphone is turned off. There are many possibilities that can remove that silence. For example, the user emits sound from another TV channel (eg MTV or CNN sound), the user does not understand what he is saying but still scrambles the noise to hear something, the user emits sound from a local radio station Provide something from an external source. In an embodiment, the primary user has the option of overriding the selected sound and calling people through the selected sound. This could have had a surprising natural effect.

  FIG. 8 shows another user command button. FIG. 8 a shows a set of user buttons with a central zoom button 81. Direction buttons (level up, level down, left, right) are located around the center zoom button. Special function buttons (menu, move) are located below the other buttons. The zoom button corresponds to the selected image, and when this button is pressed, it enlarges the selected image. The left, right, up and down buttons are configured to correspond to the visual structure of the display. Since the menu and move buttons are small, the user feels the difference and has less chance to accidentally press different buttons. FIG. 8b shows a rotation button 82 and a zoom button 81 at the center thereof. The upper and lower buttons “level up” and “level down” are for changing the order. The middle button is for enlargement. Around the zoom button is a disk 82 that allows the user to “zap” between the images in the layer. The buttons “Move-Stop” and “Menu” are located on the side and are for menu and move functions, they are placed a little away from the center to prevent accidental pressing. FIG. 8c shows a game-like user control unit. This unit is a maze 83 containing a ball and operates like a game. When the user rolls the ball to the next part on the left, the visual structure advances one image to the left. Menu, navigation and other function buttons are placed at different locations (not shown), for example on a separate remote control unit similar to that shown in FIG. FIG. 8d shows a ball-shaped user control unit. The ball 84 has a second ball 85 inside the larger ball 84. Small ball 85 has a grid on it corresponding to the visual structure on the display, and larger ball 84 has a selector on it. By turning the ball, the user can select a new image.

  Although the present invention is mainly described by an embodiment using a visual personal channel in a home TV system, the present invention is also suitable for a portable TV system (eg in a car). Further, the server entity can be realized on a computer system by a computer program for executing necessary functions. In this document, the word “comprising” does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed, and the presence of a word in the singular does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. It should be noted that the present invention can be realized by both hardware and software, and that several “means” can be expressed by the same piece of hardware. Further, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and the present invention resides in any novel feature or combination of features described above.

1 shows a network, server and user equipment. Indicates relationship information. Indicates relationship information. Indicates a closed relationship network. Show the visual structure for a personal channel. Show the visual structure for a personal channel. Show the visual structure for a personal channel. Indicates a visual structure segment. Indicates a user command unit. Indicates a user command function. Fig. 4 shows another set of user command buttons. Fig. 4 shows another set of user command buttons. Fig. 4 shows another set of user command buttons. Fig. 4 shows another set of user command buttons.

Claims (13)

A system for providing a personal TV channel to at least one of a number of users, the system comprising a server entity connectable to a network and a device for the at least one user. And
The server entity is
A network unit for receiving real-time information, user parameters and user commands over the network;
A generating unit for generating a personal channel for the at least one user in response to the user parameters and user commands by selectively including real-time information from other users in the personal channel;
Have
The device is
An input unit that receives real-time information with video information about the user from a capture unit;
-Storage means for storing user parameters identifying said at least one user;
-Control means for receiving the user command to control the content of the personal channel;
A network unit that couples the device to a server entity through a network to transmit the real-time information and the user parameters and user commands; and an output signal for display on a TV display based on the personal channel. Generating unit,
Having a system. An apparatus for use in the system of claim 1 for providing a personal TV channel to a user, the apparatus comprising:
An input unit that receives real-time information with video information about the user from a capture unit;
Storage means for storing user parameters identifying the user;
-Control means for receiving the user command to control the content of the personal channel;
A network unit for coupling the device to a server entity through a network for transmitting the real-time information and the user parameters and user commands, wherein a personal TV channel depends on the transmitted user parameters and user commands A network unit having received real-time information from other users selected, and a generating unit for generating an output signal for display on a TV display based on the personal channel,
Having a device.   The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus comprises means for receiving server control information specifically indicating that another user is receiving the real-time information from the user.   3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control means includes sound control means for controlling sound by selecting sound from a TV or radio station, in particular, for adding sound to the personal TV channel.   5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the sound control means adds a sound of a real-time source which is a source of real-time information included in a personal TV channel, or mixes a sound from a TV or a radio station with the sound.   6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the apparatus comprises means for detecting the presence of sound provided by the capture unit, and the sound control means performs the addition depending on the presence.   3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the storage means stores image information and the generating means includes the image information in the output signal.   The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said control means includes means for coupling to a remote control unit, said remote control unit comprising a user control button for providing said user command to control content of said personal TV channel. The server entity for the system of claim 1, wherein the server entity is connectable to a network for providing a personal TV channel to at least one of a number of users, the server entity comprising:
A network unit for receiving real-time information, user parameters and user commands through the network and transmitting the personal TV channel to the user through the network;
A generating unit for generating a personal channel for the at least one user in response to the user parameters and user commands by selectively including real-time information from other users in the personal channel;
A server entity with   The generating means maintains status information for a user including at least one of these, whether the capture unit is active, and who other users are receiving the real-time information from the user. Item 9. Server entity. The method of managing a system of claim 1 for providing a personal TV channel, the method comprising:
-Managing the server entity by giving a user registration to a user who can connect to the server entity through a device that provides a personal TV channel to the user; and-for user registration and storage on the device, Generating a user parameter identifying the user;
Having a method. A method of providing a personal TV channel to at least one of many users, the method comprising:
-Connecting to said user through a network;
Receiving real-time information, user parameters, and user commands through the network;
Generating a personal channel for the at least one user in response to the user parameters and user commands by selectively including real-time information from other users in the personal channel; and Transmitting a personal TV channel to the user through the network;
Having a method. 13. A computer program for providing a personal TV channel to at least one of a number of users, the computer program operating to cause a processor to perform the method of claim 12.

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